I seem to recall reading that the auditorium was in total ruins? It does seem likely this will complete that process. Fortunately, Kansas City has or is restoring at least one movie palace, regardless of whatever is being done to this one.
The Grand Lake added 3 screens in Oakland. London’s Odeon Leicester Square has tiny additional auditoriums which aren’t so relevant to this example. Movies really move over to the twin Odeon West End (until that falls). The last I read the Grand Rex in Paris was in danger because redo plans for the additional screens, etc weren’t being approved.
There’s pharmacy chains almost every block of downtown Philadelphia now. They will oversaturate the market, and every city one will close? NO.
Many sales activities, such as shoes, antique row, etc prosper with more rather than less.
Sound movies (and the growth of the neighborhood moviehouse), TELEVISION (killed Philadelphia’s Earle in 1953, the Mastbaum later in the decade, and resulted in the downsizing of seating at many including the Stanley), the move to the burbs, and multiplexes, killed the movie palaces. Same story played out everywhere in the world. Cities had many, then as of the 1950s…..
Interesting that William mentions the Alex.
Like other theater chains, Landmark is likely going to be more concerned with their megaplexes like their new Westside /theaters/20482/
2000 seats, 12 screens. That’s their for-profit economics.
It is unlikely the Rialto will reopen with the existing auditorium for daily movies, regardless of whether additional screens are added to the auditorium or not. I don’t know whether Landmark would consider dividing up the auditorium, but maybe that misses the point of saving the interior.
Perhaps either of these could be models for South Pasadena to follow with the Rialto:
Aleks in Glendale /theaters/8/
Yes, large curved marquee.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman with Lion in Winter on marquee: View link
Thanks to Dennis for taking the photo & allowing it to be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman of Funny Girl in 70 mm on the marquee (before the twinning that horrified Vince): View link
Thanks to Dennis for taking the photo and for allowing it to be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the marquee: View link
thanks to Dennis for taking these photos and allowing them to be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman of Finian’s Rainbow on the marquee, shown in 70 mm: View link
Thanks to Dennis for granting permission for the posting, and for his taking this and other theater photographs!
Deester, why do you think Ben Hur was “never” actually shown as wide as 2.7? This website seems to state that in Germany, Ben Hur will be presented in October in 2.76 aspect ratio
Here’s 10-30-2002 Philadelphia Business Journal describing that the 5 story screen, closed as am Imax a year before in United Artists bankruptcywill be reopened as an 8 story high IMAX for action films & IMAX films. This was then one of 5 arrangements Regal was doing (three in California & one in Texas) bringing Regal’s total to eleven. The article states IMAX converted “Apollo 13” and “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” into IMAX format. View link
I’m rather selective myself and as you can tell from my “well designed” description, I agree with the magazine, and with Andrew. The screen sizes are large, sound actually is surround, and the auditoriums are comfortable.
Shame on them for taking patrons' money but providing poor product: lousy projection of the film. Clearview knows better because they do a better job elsewhere.
As of now, major newspapers list only two other 24 screen megaplexes in the entire Philadelphia area: the AMC Neshaminy Mall 24 and the AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24.
Here’s the Riverview you mention:
/theaters/802/
makes me want to visit!
I seem to recall reading that the auditorium was in total ruins? It does seem likely this will complete that process. Fortunately, Kansas City has or is restoring at least one movie palace, regardless of whatever is being done to this one.
The Grand Lake added 3 screens in Oakland. London’s Odeon Leicester Square has tiny additional auditoriums which aren’t so relevant to this example. Movies really move over to the twin Odeon West End (until that falls). The last I read the Grand Rex in Paris was in danger because redo plans for the additional screens, etc weren’t being approved.
There’s pharmacy chains almost every block of downtown Philadelphia now. They will oversaturate the market, and every city one will close? NO.
Many sales activities, such as shoes, antique row, etc prosper with more rather than less.
Sound movies (and the growth of the neighborhood moviehouse), TELEVISION (killed Philadelphia’s Earle in 1953, the Mastbaum later in the decade, and resulted in the downsizing of seating at many including the Stanley), the move to the burbs, and multiplexes, killed the movie palaces. Same story played out everywhere in the world. Cities had many, then as of the 1950s…..
Interesting that William mentions the Alex.
Like other theater chains, Landmark is likely going to be more concerned with their megaplexes like their new Westside /theaters/20482/
2000 seats, 12 screens. That’s their for-profit economics.
It is unlikely the Rialto will reopen with the existing auditorium for daily movies, regardless of whether additional screens are added to the auditorium or not. I don’t know whether Landmark would consider dividing up the auditorium, but maybe that misses the point of saving the interior.
Perhaps either of these could be models for South Pasadena to follow with the Rialto:
Aleks in Glendale
/theaters/8/
Warner Grand, San Pedro
/theaters/21/
Photos including interior and including the former main chandelier of the auditorium, here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2926.html
link was omitted to Dennis' photo of Theatre 1812
View link
As to Box Office:
(at the Goldman) Funny Girl was # 1 at 1968 box office.
http://www.boxofficereport.com/database/1968.shtml
2 was 2001: A Space Odyssey, followed by The Odd Couple, Bullitt, Romeo and Juliet
(at the Midtown) # 6 was Oliver
Planet of the Apes followed, then Rosemary’s Baby, then Yours, Mine and Ours,
(at Theatre 1812) # 10 was The Lion in Winter
(at Cinema 19) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was # 17
Yes, large curved marquee.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman with Lion in Winter on marquee:
View link
Thanks to Dennis for taking the photo & allowing it to be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman of Funny Girl in 70 mm on the marquee (before the twinning that horrified Vince):
View link
Thanks to Dennis for taking the photo and for allowing it to be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman with Oliver on marquee:
View link
Thanks to Dennis for taking the photo & allowing it to be posted.
Ice Station Zebra on marquee, photo by Dennis Zimmerman:
View link
Thanks to Dennis for taking the photo & allowing it be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the marquee:
View link
thanks to Dennis for taking these photos and allowing them to be posted.
Photo by Dennis Zimmerman of Finian’s Rainbow on the marquee, shown in 70 mm:
View link
Thanks to Dennis for granting permission for the posting, and for his taking this and other theater photographs!
This website says the theater has been sold for redevelopment:
http://users.aber.ac.uk/jwp/cinemas/cinlondon.html
More photos of exterior:
View link
View link
to be more exact, it looks like one week of Dirty Dancing, then one week of Saturday Night Fever.
Deester, why do you think Ben Hur was “never” actually shown as wide as 2.7? This website seems to state that in Germany, Ben Hur will be presented in October in 2.76 aspect ratio
http://www.in70mm.com/festival/2007/index.htm
I also seem to recall reading that in certain roadship presentations it was indeed originally so presented?
Here’s 10-30-2002 Philadelphia Business Journal describing that the 5 story screen, closed as am Imax a year before in United Artists bankruptcywill be reopened as an 8 story high IMAX for action films & IMAX films. This was then one of 5 arrangements Regal was doing (three in California & one in Texas) bringing Regal’s total to eleven. The article states IMAX converted “Apollo 13” and “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” into IMAX format.
View link
The June 1999 Philadelphia Magazine ranked this movie theater as a nearly perfect 4.8, with the comment “Staff is like a welcoming committee.”
Long ago, as the Fox was demolished in 1980.
I’m rather selective myself and as you can tell from my “well designed” description, I agree with the magazine, and with Andrew. The screen sizes are large, sound actually is surround, and the auditoriums are comfortable.
Shame on them for taking patrons' money but providing poor product: lousy projection of the film. Clearview knows better because they do a better job elsewhere.
As of now, major newspapers list only two other 24 screen megaplexes in the entire Philadelphia area: the AMC Neshaminy Mall 24 and the AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24.
Photo and review here View link
This is exterior in 2006 as a 7 screener are here:http://www.maglietta.org/my_so_called_life/movies/franktheatres.htm
That above site also has a photo of the lobby with concessions stand.
more exterior photos & description here:
View link